Machine for cutting butter, &amp;c.



v No. 883.037. PATENTED MAR 24, 1908.

J. H. MAURER;

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, 8w. APPLIOATION FILED MAY '1, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2 K ATTORNEYS [/VVE/V Tole,

A TTO/e/VE 1 5.

PATENTED MAR. 24; 1908.

1 Ill J. MAURER. MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1907- JOHN H. MAURER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, 850.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed May '7, 1907. Serial No. 372,300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MAURER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting Butter, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting butter, and the like, and its object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby a slice or block of predetermined weight can be quickly and accurately cut from a cake. A still further object is to provide means whereby the blocks or slices can be removed from the cake in layers, the removed portion being of exactly the weight desired, thereby rendering it unnecessary to add to the slice or cake a small portion of the material in order to produce a desired weight.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown 7 the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through a portion thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified. form of apparatus Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the cross head; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cutter shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a base preferably enlarged or broadened. at the center shown at 2,

' said enlarged portion being provided. with a metal-lined socket 3 at the center thereof preferably surrounded. by a circular groove 4 which is concentric therewith. Standards 5 extend upward from the base and have arms 6 extending inwardly therefrom. These arms are disposed out of alinement and ex tend at an angle from a guide sleeve 7 through which extends an angular openingS.

Revolublymounted on the enlarged portion of the base is a circular table 9 having a stud 10 extending downward from the center thereof and disposed to bear within the socket 3. A circular groove 11 is formed in the upper face of the table close to the periphery thereof and this groove is intersected at regular intervals by radially disposed dove-tail grooves 12 each of which is designed to receive a holding blade 13 which is triangular in cross section and has an opening 14 therein disposed to register with groove 11 so that the flow of liquid within the groove will not be stop ed by the blades.

Slidafily mounted within the opening 8 is an angular supporting bar 15 designed to be locked against movement in any preferred manner, as by means of a set screw 16. This bar has suitably designated graduations thereon and is provided at its lower end with an arm 17 terminating in an eye 18 located directly above the center of the table 9. fork 19 of a lever 20 straddles the eye 18 and is pivotally mounted thereon and this fork and its lever are preferably formed of two metal strips riveted or otherwise secured together. A substantially rectangular blade 21 has one edge secured between these strips and the inner and bottom edges of the blade constitute the cutting edges. When the lever 20 is swung into a horizontal position the inner edge of the blade will assume a position in alinement with the center of table 9 as shown in Fig. 2. The lower edge of the blade is equal to or greater than one-half the diameter of the cake to be cut.

Slidably mounted on the bar 15 is a sleeve 22 designed to be held against movement in any preferred manner as by means of a set screw 23 and extending horizontally from this sleeve are arms 24 preferably disposed at about ninety degrees from each other and terminating in hangers 25 having inwardly extending su porting ears 26 at their lower ends. The liver 20 is designed to swing vertically in a plane intersecting the angle formed by the arms 24. Supported by the cars 26 is a curved gage strip 27 having a holding strap 28 thereon designed to receive a knife blade 29. This blade is supported in a horizontal position by the strap 28 and gage strip 27 and the point thereof is su ported above the center of the table. T e knife is preferably locked in p osition by means of a set screw 30.

In using this apparatus the bar 15 is pushed upward within sleeve 7 and it is obvious that the two knives will also be carried therewith. A cake of butter of a standard size is then placed upon the table and the holding blades 13 will bite thereinto so that when the table is rotated a cake will be positively carried therewith. Bar 15 is then lowered until the graduations thereon indicate the depth which it is desired to out into the cake. Said bar is then secured. It is of course understood that during this 3 Strip adjustment the two knives 21 and 29 are out of operative position. After the cake has.

been placed in position blade 21 is swung downward thereinto and blade 29 is then inserted through strap 28 and into the cake.

Blade 21 is then removed and the table 9 21 to cut into the remainingportion of'the cake. Should the cake be of a smaller size than those with which the gage strip 2'7 is-to beused a supplemental gage strip 31 may be attachedto the gage strip 27. By following thegraduations upon-this supplemental gage strip a slice orblock of a predetermined weight can be removed in the same manner as where the gage strip 27 is used with a larger cake.

The apparatus hereinbefore described is designed for use'with cylindrical cakes such as contained within an ordinary tub or firkin. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 however has-been shown a construction designed to cut predetermined quantities of butter andthe like from a large rectangular cake. In said figures 32'designates a base having grooves 33 within the upper face thereof designed to receive projections 34' extending from the bottom'face of a table 35. This table is preferably rectangular and has a groove 36 extending within the-upper face thereof and adjacent the edges and transverse dove-tail grooves 37 are formed within this table'to receive holding blades 38 triangular in cross section. These blades extend from front to rear of the table and are designed to bite into a cakesupported thereby and to hold it against lateral movement during'the cutting operation hereinafter described.

Extending upward fromthe base- 32 are standards 39'having longitudinal channels 40 in their inner or adjoining faces. The upper ends of these standards are connected by a cross strip 41'having a central sleeve 42 in Whichis slidably mounted ascrew threaded stem 43 having an adjusting nut 44thereon. Stem 43 is secured to and extends upward from thecenter of'a cross head 45 having guide blocks 46 depending from its ends and slidably mounted inthe channels 40. A feed screw 47 has its end portions journaledwithin these blocks 46 and is arranged parallel with the cross head 45. One *en'dof the feedscrew extends through a slot 48 in one of the standards 39 and has a crank 49 whereby it can be readily rotated. Gradnations 50 are disposed along the slot 48 toindicate the height to which the feed screw is adjusted.

A carriage 51 is mounted upon and designed to be'actuated by the feed screw and has a forked arm 52 which embraces and is slidably mounted upon the cross head 45. An ear 53 extends downward from this carriage and has an angular or L-shaped blade 54 secured to it and depending therefrom, one member of said blade being disposed vertically while the lower portion thereof is horizontal and has an upwardly extending ear 55 to whichis secured one end of a later-- ally extending gage strip 56. An ear 57 extends forward from thecarriage 51 and'has a lever 58 pivotally connected thereto and carrying a substantially rectangular blade 59.

In using the apparatus shown in Fig. 3the carriage 51 is moved'into position close to the crank 49-andthe cross head45is drawn upward by means of stem 43 and nut 44 and lever 58 is raised. The cake to be cut is then i placed on the table 35 after whichthe cross head 45 is lowered until the graduations 50 indicate the depth which it is desired to'cut into the cake. The carriage 51 is then moved laterally by rotating screw 47 andthe angular knife 54 will cut into the cake. When the end of the cake registers with a desired'graduation on strip 56 the blade 59 is swung downward into the cake and the block is thus completely detached fromthe cake and can be'easily removed. By repeat ing this operation a number of blocks can be cut along a line extending transversely of the cake, after which the table 35 can be drawn forward and another series of blocks cut therefrom. After the entire-upper portion ofthe cake has been removed in this manner the cross head 45 can be again lowered'and the foregoing operations repeated.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a movable table; of a blade supported thereabove for cutting a horizontal incision within a cake upon the table, and a'blade supported above the table'for cutting into a cake at right angles to said incision, said blades being'separately movable.

2. In anapparatus of the character described the combination with a movable table; of separately movable blades supported above the table forcutting along intersecting planes, and a gage'for indicating thedepths of the cuts produced by the respective blades.

3. In an apparatus of the character described the combination' with a movable scribed the combination with a movable table; of blades adjustably supported thereabove for cutting along horizontal and vertical planes respectively, and means for indicating the depth of the respective cuts.

5. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a table having grooves therein; of horizontally disposed means for cutting transversely into a cake upon the table, and longitudinally movable blades removably seated within the grooves for holding a cake immovably upon the table during the cutting operation.

6. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a movable table; of a vertically adjustable element, a cutting blade pivotally connected thereto and disposed to swing toward or from the table, and means for cutting a cake along a plane parallel with the table.

7. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a movable table; of a vertically adjustable element, a cutting blade pivotally connected thereto and disposed to swing toward or from the table, and adjustably supported means for cuglting a cake along a plane parallel with the ta e.

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a movable table; of a vertically adjustable element, a cutting blade pivotally connected thereto and disposed to swing toward or from the table, adjustably supported means for cutting a cake along a plane parallel with the table, and a gage for indicating the depth of the out produced by each cutting means.

9. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a' base and standards thereon; of a table movably mounted upon the base adjacent the standards, a vertically adjustable element supported by the standards, a cutting device carried by said element and movable toward or from the table, and an adjustable cutting device supported by and below said element for cutting along a plane parallel with the table.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. MAURER.

Witnesses:

JAs. C. COLE, J. R. MAOGREGOR. 

